National Grid gas Supply

smallthundercloud

The gas mains in my street are being replaced.

Contractor has demanded access on Monday, (four days notice) to dig up my drive and replace a service pipe. They have given me no written details, I have no contract with them at all...but if i refuse, they will cut off my supply on Tuesday. I have contacted National Grid to ask what is going on - still waiting for a response.

I get home tonight (Thurs) to find my gas has been cut off. No card, no notice. Rung National Grid, no explanation or advice - left without heating or cooking facilities.

Anyone know if I have any rights here at all? Is there any way of getting this organisation to acknowledge the customer? This isnt an emergency it is 'PLANNED' maintenance work (if you can call it planning)

daveyjp

It's always better to establish the facts before flying off on one.

Call the gas emergency number. An emergency could have arisen whilst they were doing work elsewhere.

lemontart

daveyjp wrote: »

It's always better to establish the facts before flying off on one.

Call the gas emergency number. An emergency could have arisen whilst they were doing work elsewhere.

DO NOT call the gas emergency number it is not an emergency as you know why the gas has been turned off, you should have had a letter some time ago warning you of impending works, the customer support team will contact you once they have any information.

Your gas has to be turned off in order for the work to proceed and the engineers will need access to restore your supply and relight appliances safely - if they miss you for any reason when they are able to restore supply you will have a card put through your door with the number to call for an engineer to attend to do this for you.

The people doing the mains replacement work do not usually deal with emergency work unless there is an major incident. The awful weather has delay some planned works starting on time.

There will be an appropriate contact number on the letter you would have been sent for customer service centre of the company or gas alliance carrying out the works and of course you were also told by the contractor that this would happen.

smallthundercloud

Your gas has to be turned off in order for the work to proceed
No it hasn't. That's what theyre going to do on Monday

it is not an emergency as you know why the gas has been turned off
Well no, I didnt. See above

Having rung the emergency line, I was eventually told that they 'accidentally' cut me off while working on my neighbours drive. And they didnt notice they had done so so they couldnt tell me about it. No gas tonight. Not impressed.

albyota

It is obviously an accident that has caused this, probably digger hit pipe that feeds your house, and cannot repair in view of imminant replacement of existing pipe. However they should have a project manager that is supervising / looking after project....and he has failed to realise that the pipe damaged feeds another property, they are usually pretty good when dealing with domestic customers, and although I can simpathise with your case, it will probably sort itself out in the morning when the contractors return, keep calm, and discuss compensation at manager level, not the oik with the spade....he'll just hit you with it.... good luck.

lemontart

Good customer support have obviously spoken to engineering or the contractors and advised you - was confused by you saying mains replacement (you should have had a letter about that) where does damage come into it albyota?

albyota

"Having rung the emergency line, I was eventually told that they 'accidentally' cut me off while working on my neighbours drive. And they didnt notice they had done so so they couldnt tell me about it. No gas tonight. Not impressed."

Lemontart, I picked up that there must have been damage, whilst working on next doors drive....

spiro

It is perfectly possible that the gas pipe from the mains came partway up the drive before dividing to supply both you and your neighbour so when they cut and replaced his pipe they inadvertently disconnected you. No one has a contract with the gas pipe provider or the electricity cable provider, however they have a right of access to do works.

lemontart

albyota wrote: »

"Having rung the emergency line, I was eventually told that they 'accidentally' cut me off while working on my neighbours drive. And they didnt notice they had done so so they couldnt tell me about it. No gas tonight. Not impressed."

Lemontart, I picked up that there must have been damage, whilst working on next doors drive....

sorry does not mean damage to me cut off can mean several things , be it turned off in street, pipe disconnected or as you say damage - so I would not come the the same conclusion with out more info also given doing mains replacement more likely to have been one of the 1st two options I mention, it was interferance damage then he would have had an emergency team on site,

albyota

lemontart wrote: »

sorry does not mean damage to me cut off can mean several things , be it turned off in street, pipe disconnected or as you say damage - so I would not come the the same conclusion with out more info also given doing mains replacement more likely to have been one of the 1st two options I mention, it was interferance damage then he would have had an emergency team on site,

Sorry to you, lemontart and I bow to your superior knowledge....;), I made an assumption of damage, but the main point I was trying to get across was that due to the OP's state of mood, I was suggesting that :-

"it will probably sort itself out in the morning when the contractors return, keep calm, and discuss compensation at manager level, not the oik with the spade....he'll just hit you with it.... good luck".

so, ease up.....:)

AL